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July 23, 2021

The Talbot Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community

Point of View Op-Ed Point of View Opinion

Satire: Mound of Muzak by Keith Watts

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Trappe, Talbot County, Md. – July 23, 2021 — For Immediate Release.

The Talbot County Council Elders today announced the formation of a new aquaculture subcommittee, “The Trappe Family Slingers,” to study spraying aerosolized effluent near the living, breathing citizens of Trappe ad infinitum — and notably, as far distant from whence the Elders reside in Easton as distance will permit.

The Family Von Trappes, freshly scrubbed from an extended engagement at another waste management facility at the opposite end of Talbot County (where said treatment previously was gleefully cajoled down the watermens’ (what rhymes with “boats?”) promised to soothe the entirely valid, but ultimately unimportant concerns of locals by serenading them 24/7.  This includes several of their hits (“quiet enjoyment” noise ordinances notwithstanding), such as “So Long, Farewell, Fresh Air Is Over-Rated” and “How Do You Solve A Problem Like E. Coli?”

Although a lawsuit has been filed (because of variations from plans previously agreed to), the Elders, like that stubborn ring ‘round the porcelain in your WC, nevertheless gurgle and stain ahead, a force unto themselves like a five gallon flush.  And, despite almost, but not quite, successfully spending $200,000 to run a single sewer line for one, lonely County commode (“Game of Throne”), The Elders scattered attention has now turned like Sauron’s Eye to furnishing an exuberant abundance of airborne, perfectly inhalable particles of what was described by one Trappian as “Not Chanel No. 5.”

An “Old Faithful,” Yellowstone geyser consisting of 520,000 gallons of pungent, odiferous “waist-water” daily, to be precise. Sprayed whether the weather is breezy or not, by the by. Breezy best, by the way.  Breathe deep.

Finally, the Elders have asked the Family Trappes to celebrate their recent achievement(s) in an ode penned just for them. Anonymous sources (pinching their noses) say it will recount their courageous acts in “The Great Battle Of Lead From Behind.”

In pulling up the drawbridge of public access spanning the treacherous moat surrounding Castle Bradley, the Elders have craftily, yet carefully constricted the few fortunate living commentators to those “in-person” in their COVID-19 super-spreader Petri dish on N. Washington. The Elders are nevertheless enthused about The Trappes and hearing their special swan song, written for themselves, sure to make it into the Pantheon of musical infamy known as the The Great American Sludgebook.  Come hear the premier performance this Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m., 15 N. Washington St., Easton, MD.  If you have trouble finding the location, follow your nose.

Keith Watts is a speaker, lawyer, author, poet & mediator who lives on Tilghman Island.  

Luck by Angela Rieck

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I am not a lucky person. My friends ask my advice for products and services so that they can make a different choice. Even my husband got into the act. Countless times I have heard “this never breaks” or “this has never happened before.” If it can break, it will.  I had a root canal on the wrong tooth.

But on the important things, I have been incredibly lucky. I had a long and loving marriage, I have a healthy daughter, I have wonderful friends and family.  So, I don’t pay a lot of attention to my “bad luck.” But I take precautions. I purchase the extended warranty, I keep extra pump and spray bottles (to replace defective ones), I try to avoid optional surgeries (more about that later), and I don’t waste my money on games of chance.

But as I am getting ready for a surgery to fix a botched Lasik, I started to wonder.  Is there such a thing as luck?

Well, it depends on your perspective.  Many believe that luck is probability taken personally. As a statistician, I am a big believer in probability.  One of the most common errors in judgement is the gambler’s fallacy, which is a non-Bayesian approach (e.g., what is the probability that you will get “heads” on a fair coin if you have gotten “tails” for the last 10 times…the answer, 50%). From this viewpoint, “bad luck” is merely focusing on bad events and “good luck” is counting the good ones.

Many traditional practices, such as voodoo and hoodoo, have strong beliefs in luck and superstition. Religions teach that third parties can influence an individual’s luck, such as saints or ancestors. Shamans and witches are believed to cause good or bad fortune. In some cultures, certain numbers are lucky (7 for Christians; 8 for Chinese). Buddhism, on the other hand, emphatically believes that luck does not exist because all things that happen must have a cause.

Psychologist Richard Wiseman studied the phenomenon of luck and determined that good fortune is mostly attitude. “Lucky” people were more open-minded, smiling, and easy-going, while those who perceived themselves to be “unlucky” were more anxious and felt that they were unfairly “treated.”

Based on his research he developed a prescription for good luck:

  1. Maximize opportunities. Lucky people often change their daily routine making them open to new opportunities.
  2. Listen to hunches and your body’s reaction. Lucky people indicated that they listened to the little voice in their head.
  3. Expect good luck. Lucky people expect to win.

So, I am following his advice…hey you never know, maybe I’ll buy a lottery ticket.

Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

Be Very Afraid of the Delta Variant by J. E. Dean

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I am angry with some of you.  I mean those of you who have not yet gotten the COVID-19 vaccine.  You are putting the health of all of us, including children, at risk. You also are risking our economic recovery by restarting the pandemic.

Your decision to forego the vaccine is not a personal one, however you want to rationalize your thought process. If you get sick, you may get medical care from the government via Medicaid or Medicare, which my taxes help pay for. Some of you also will require emergency care that insurance won’t cover. If you get the care—and I hope you do—the hospital will absorb the cost of your unpaid bills. This undermines its ability to offer health services to the rest of us.

Some of you may wonder why I get so worked-up. The answer is the Delta Variant. Call it COVID-19 Version Two if you want. I call it the biggest threat to our country since Version One showed up a year and a half ago. 

The Delta Variant is a new strain of the coronavirus that is now dominant in the U.S. It is more contagious and more likely to infect children. Proof of its potential to restart the pandemic may be found in the rising infection and hospitalization rates in the states with the lowest vaccination rates.

I am very afraid of the Delta variant. I am joined in my fear by the CDC, the mayor of Los Angeles and a lot of Wall Street investors. You may ask why we should care about them?  The answer is reflected in the 900-point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average on Monday. It appears that sophisticated investors have concluded that there is sufficient risk of the Delta variant crashing the recovering economy to justify selling stocks.

When Wall Street talks, it is worth listening. When the Street shouts, as it did on Monday, we need to listen. The Street tells us that we could again have massive unemployment, lockdowns, and closed schools. What the Street didn’t say directly yesterday, is that the new crisis is, or should I say, was, avoidable. Had everyone had access to the vaccine gotten it, you would not be reading this column. You also would not have to start worrying about reliving 2020.  

I got my vaccine in March after trying several weeks to get one. When I finally got an appointment, I showed up an hour early.  I wasn’t going to risk a screw-up. My primary motivation was self-preservation, but I also did not want to infect anyone else.   

In the last 10 days, we have learned that Los Angeles has reimposed a mask-mandate. We are watching the sad circus of the 2020 already-postponed Tokyo Olympics. We see baseball games postponed because players have contracted the virus. And we see many small business owners getting nervous again just as the crowds start to return.

Earlier this week I went to Lowe’s to pick up a few items. Having just listened to an NPR story about the Delta variant, I decided to wear a mask when I entered the store. Once inside, I noticed that few people were masked. Ironically, most of the masked customers, like me, were older. Most of them, I suspect, have been vaccinated.  What about the younger people in the store, the ones without masks?  Are they vaccinated?  I don’t know.  That worries me. 

How is Maryland doing?  The CDC tells us that 76.2 percent of those of us 18 or older have received at least one shot. Approximately 56.4 percent have had both shots. That is good, but not great. We need to do better, don’t you think?

For more information:

Dorchester County:   https://dorchesterhealth.org/covid-19/

Kent County:   https://www.accesskent.com/Health/coronavirus.htm

Talbot County:   https://talbotcovid19.org/

State of Maryland:  https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/

J.E. Dean of Oxford is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, birds, and occasionally goldendoodles

Open Letter to the New Town Manager of St. Michaels

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As a town we are not sure what you know about St. Michaels. I would like to provide an overview of the past to the present.

Historically, St. Michaels was a poor declining seafood processing town. A decision was made several decades ago to shift to a tourism economy which brings us to what keeps the town thriving today. We are one of the top tourist destinations in the Mid-Atlantic region. Some of our highlights are a fabulous assortment of shops and art galleries, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, The Inn at Perry Cabin, beautiful marinas that are packed with guests throughout the boating season, and more excellent restaurants per capita than anywhere else on the Eastern Shore. The success of the town has driven up real estate prices with some ‘in town’ properties without waterfront selling for more than $1 million. It’s not uncommon for first time visitors to like what they find so much that they head straight to a real estate office and buy a weekend or even a permanent home before the end of their visit.

Our town has suffered recently. Four of our five commissioners in a closed session on June 24th made the decision to fire our town manager, Jean Weisman. It was abrupt and without explanation to either our community or Jean. She served this town for more than 37 years, the last ten as town manager. You can read the many accolades in previous Talbot Spy postings. This decision has created a distrust of the commissioners. They campaigned and were voted in on a platform of total government transparency. They have failed us miserably.

At the last meeting we heard that the commissioners were taking the town in a “new direction”. The treasurer, Tad DuPont, stated his displeasure with the way the town was going, …”too much public drinking, noise from loud music and too many tourists.” He wants things to go back to the way they were and he will not explain this “new direction” he is planning for the town which we all suspect will negatively impact the businesses and tourism that helps the town thrive.

As a town administrator, you know that every town in Maryland is required to have a Comprehensive Plan that lays out the town’s values, its vision, its long term objectives and the paths for achieving those objectives. St. Michaels has a current Comprehensive Plan. I was part of that Planning and Zoning Commission that spent a year and a half projecting the future needs and direction of the town. I encourage you to read it. I suspect the Commissioners’ current “new direction” might be in conflict with it.They are not willing to speak about it to either the residents or the businesses which need to focus on their own business plans.

The town’s goal has been to promote tourism and attract investors willing to invest in tourist resources. That goal has been achieved. However, four of our five commissioners have recently declared war on the business community. They want a quieter less frequented town.

People love St. Michaels and feel welcomed when they visit. COVID has accelerated tourism as people have sought refuge from the larger cities. They come here to celebrate national holidays and festivals with us. Many choose St. Michaels for family reunions and weddings. Corporations hold conferences and retreats using our facilities. You will be confronting a division of attitudes about St.Michaels by two sides that love this town but want a different future. Whoever manages St. Michaels will need to recognize and work to resolve the deep divisions we now have and clear the major distrust of our town commissioners.

It would be my pleasure to share more about our town with you over a cup of coffee at one of our charming coffee shops.

Paulette Florio
St.Michaels

Out and About (Sort of): Change of Mind by Howard Freedlander

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The loss of a treasured pet robs humans of a non-judgmental friend that offers comfort and company. It takes months, if not years to grieve the death of a dog; sometimes people decide the bereavement is too much to endure again.

That’s how my wife and I felt when our beloved Sandy, a Yellow Labrador Retriever that captured our hearts from the first time she became ours in April 2016, died at the end of January 2021. Her absence left a hole in our lives.

We decided that Sandy was irreplaceable. We need only to take care of ourselves. We no longer were responsible for a dog; we were free from the care and feeding of a canine animal.

A friend predicted we would adopt another dog by August. I dismissed his speculation. My wife was determined to be dogless. Her resolve seemed immovable.

Then life intervened. Our youngest daughter adopted a Chocolate Lab from Kuwait. This same daughter urged her mother to lead with her heart, not her mind in considering acquisition of a pet. Subsequently, my wife and I began “what if” conversations, focused mainly on finding a small, pure-bred dog that was at least five or six-years-old. We definitely didn’t want a puppy.

My wife initiated a search in her typically thorough way. She found a breeder in Western Pennsylvania of English Toy Spaniels, which include Prince Charles Spaniels. Our quest for a new family member looked very promising—and imminent.

A turning point happened to us about three weeks ago. We sadly spread Sandy’s ashes in familiar surroundings near our former home in Easton. Perhaps we found closure, a commonly used word these days, but an apt one.

Last Thursday, we met the talkative breeder in a nondescript shopping center parking lot in Morgantown, WVA, not exactly a midpoint for us. Nonetheless, we met Dorian, paid the breeder, received plentiful advice and went home with a pug-nosed dog who loves human laps.

She is still nervous. Her owners are unfamiliar. The apartment smells are different. The elevator is scary. She doesn’t seem to like a leash. The outside terrain is a bit intimidating.

Her anxiety is understandable. Dogs mirror how humans feel in a strange environment. Nervousness can disappear quickly. We are making progress in our relationship. She is beginning to eat, seems utterly content in our laps and has not had an accident in 24 hours.

We took the plunge. I’m glad we did. I think that Dorrie is cute in her inimitable way, unaffected by her lofty royal lineage.

I think our lives already have improved. We can care about each other and still pay sufficient attention and affection to an exceedingly small dog. Our world is more complete.

Politicians like to say about their elective ambitions, “Never say never.” Dog owners are similarly minded; death of a precious pet hurts deeply. Time can ameliorate the grief.

We were emotionally ready to adopt and love another dog, much smaller than Sandy, but equally adept at grabbing our affection, even after only six days.

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. In retirement, Howard serves on the boards of several non-profits on the Eastern Shore, Annapolis and Philadelphia.

Fireflying by Jamie Kirkpatrick

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It’s funny how much we forget. I spent countless happy summer hours in my pajamas, chasing fireflies on the lawn in front of our house in Pittsburgh. When it came time to go to bed, my twinkling little friends would accompany me, housed in a mason jar, tiny holes poked in the top, a handful of dry grass on the bottom. I’d fall asleep watching their faint illuminations, then in the morning, I’d let them go so I could capture them all over again.

I hadn’t thought of those twilight summer evenings in years. But when our grandson came to visit last week and saw fireflies twinkling in the gloaming, it all came rushing back to me on a flood tide. At first, I just watched him stalk his prey, swipe the air, then slowly open his hand to see if he had captured one. Absorbed in the moment, time stood still for Gavin, but it my mind, it hurtled back to one of my childhood’s most magical moments—safe, carefree, sublimely happy. I couldn’t help myself: I joined the party.

Fireflies or lightning bugs? Apparently, the answer depends on where you live. In New England and out in the West, the term of choice is firefly, while in the South and in the Midwest, people tend to call those little flying lanterns lightning bugs. Theories abound on this difference of nomenclature, but to a kid, it doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. All they know and see is that tiny dot of yellow light, hanging on a puff of air, winking a signal to attract a prospective mate. They hardly care that it’s the males who tend to twinkle while they fly; the females wait in the grass or on the leaves of a tree and when they see a signal they like, they respond with a blink of their own—nature’s way of saying, “Here I am. C’mon over” And so it goes…

I did a little more research. The life cycle of the firefly lasts about a year. As summer wanes, females lay their eggs in sheltered spots. It takes about three weeks for the eggs to incubate before they hatch as larvae. Believe it or not, the larvae are carnivorous, feeding on spiders, snails, or other insects. They spend the winter months underground in a protected environment, their pupal form slowly developing wings. By late spring or early summer, they emerge as adult fireflies. Up, up, and away they go; the cycle begins anew.

But all that is mostly grown-up gobbledygook to a kid out chasing fireflies on a summer evening. The magic is in the moment and the science behind it is something to put away ’til later. How sad that sense of wonder fades as we grow older; what a blessing it was to trip over it again after all these years.

Memory unlocks, a door on rusty hinges. One of the great joys of being a grandparent is that occasionally we get to vicariously experience a moment of childhood all over again. We watch the grandkids at play and suddenly we’re transported back to a time when there was nothing more important than a bedside jar of fireflies. All those memories are still down there, biding their time, waiting to glow on a warm summer evening.

I’ll be right back.

Jamie Kirkpatrick is a writer and photographer who lives in Chestertown, MD. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Washington College Alumni Magazine, and American Cowboy Magazine.

Two collections of his essays (“Musing Right Along” and “I’ll Be Right Back”) are available on Amazon. Jamie’s website is www.musingjamie.com

 

 

Letter to Editor: What we didn’t learn at the Last St. Michaels Town Meeting

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At the end of the July 14 meeting we still didn’t learn why our town manager, Jean Weisman, was fired but we did find out that the commissioners think the have hired an interim replacement. I say “THE COMMISSIONERS THINK” because we didn’t learn how much the new person is being paid. We did find out that the commissioners don’t seem to have any idea how much the new guy will cost the town in salary or benefits. We didn’t learn what the new guy’s job will be because the contract is still being worked on and isn’t signed yet. So, in summary, we didn’t get a valid reason for the firing of our town manager, Jean Weisman, and we don’t seem to really have an interim replacement yet.

St. Michaels July 14 town meeting: What we learned and what’s left out…

We learned that one of our seemingly anti-business commissioners thinks of himself in a totally different way. We learned that Tad duPont thinks he is pro-business because he supported those business folks that opened the towns first Winery. We learned that he supported those business folks that opened the towns first brewery. We even learned that he supported those business folks that opened the town’s first distillery. What did Tad leave out? Well, fact is that those three businesses he mentioned rented their business space from him (the Winery has since moved to a building not owned by Tad) so it seems it pays Tad to support certain business. But, what about other businesses? Just a few weeks ago Tad led the drive to deny a request from the CBMM to use docking space during their classic boat show and at this meeting he led the move to severely limit a local businesses request to put a tent in their parking lot for a one day private function. He and his cohorts had verbiage added that would allow the request but only for this one time and, it seems, the business can never request this again. What did Tad leave out? Well, remember when all those tents went up in the parking lot of Tad’s Old Mill to house the sea glass festival? And just where were those restrictions when he did it again? And again? And what about all those tents in parking lots for Winefest and Runfest and Any Old fest? Do duPont, Breimhurst, and Bibb plan to say NO to any and all future Fest-re-Quests? It doesn’t seem to me that the term Pro-Business and the name Tad duPont go together too well lately.

St. Michaels deserves political leaders who don’t mislead us or lie to us. We deserve leadership that respects us and respects our laws and code and who respects our town employees. We have one such leader in Jamie Windon, we just need 4 more!

Michael Estrella
St. Michaels

Op-Ed: The Screened Porch—A Little Slice of Heaven by Maria Grant

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I am obsessed with my screened porch. I love having that first cup of coffee in the morning there—listening to birds, seeing a flash of red as a cardinal flies by, and often, if I’m lucky, watching hummingbirds feast on purple salvia. In mid-day, I love having a light lunch and a glass of iced tea there. And, in the early evening, I love sitting on the screened porch with friends, sharing cocktails and appetizers. It’s crazy, but conversations seem more relaxed, more honest and open there. Then there is the wonderful experience of enjoying soothing sounds of gentle rains. And let’s not forget returning to the porch later in the evening, lighting candles and enjoying cool breezes and crescent moons.

Our porch is the most popular room in our house. It is a simple affair with a red brick floor, a white beaded wood ceiling with a large fan, floral rug, comfortable wicker furniture with deep cushions, an antique cabinet to store candles, and a small round wrought iron table with two chairs. Our goldendoodle Lucca can frequently be found lying on the wicker sofa with her head on its arm staring outside.

Ancient Greeks were the first to develop porches with columned porticoes (which is where the word porch was derived) which marked entrances to temples, halls, and gardens. It’s easy to picture Socrates discussing philosophy with his students on one of them. 

In America, screened porches gained popularity in the 1880’s when screening material became more widespread. At that time, people escaped the heat of enclosed houses and sought cooler spaces, often using them as sleeping porches—in the backs of houses and on second floors. 

Then in the 1920’s screened porches became popular again as a healthier place to spend time when people were worried about germs and diseases and wanted protection from bugs. Since then, some screened porches have become quite grandiose with big-screen TV’s, fireplaces, huge dining tables and more.

It’s interesting to read about how Southern states turned porches into an art form. They copied some of the Greek’s obsession with columns and built these Greek revival mansions with magnificent verandas. (Think Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Gone with the Wind.) Many of their porches then morphed from front porches to back porches. Today, many homeowners prefer decks or patios. Or often turn former screened porches into family rooms or four-season rooms.  

I’m always sad when I enter a house where the screened porch has been turned into something else. I understand why people do it—obviously so they can use the room throughout the year.  But for me, those rooms lack the charm of the simple screened porch.

Hearing crickets, seeing my blue heron friend at water’s edge, drinking a glass of chilled Sancerre on my screened porch—I say that’s perfection. And maybe just a little slice of heaven.  

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the Federal Human Capital practice of an international consulting firm.  Today she focuses on reading, writing, piano, travel, nature and kayaking.

Focus On Talbot: Planning Commission To Re-Examine Lakeside Process by Dan Watson

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The Talbot County Planning Commission is on the way to investigating possible problems surrounding the greenlight given to the Lakeside developer last year.  Allegations have been made about inappropriate and dangerous changes to the plans for the new spray irrigation sewage system for the project, the withholding of information about failures in the existing Trappe sewer plant to which the first 120 homes (or more) are to be connected, and a breakdown in the integrity of the County’s land use review process.

It is clear a majority of Planning Commissioners are committed to get to the bottom of things if they can, to try to determine if the allegations are true or not.  The first step of that process will take place at a Commission Work Session set for this Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at the large meeting room of the Talbot County Public Library, which will be open to the public.  No conclusions are expected at this session:  this meeting will be devoted to compiling and clarifying the questions to which the Commissioners are demanding answers.  All of this is in preparation for comments to the Maryland Department of the Environment (“MDE”) in their re-evaluation of the Lakeside discharge permit, as ordered by the Circuit Court of Talbot County.

(The Commission’s work session might be livestreamed and/or viewable afterwards here.  

The Planning Commissioner’s review was delayed because on July 2nd–within twenty-four hours of receiving a letter detailing the problems—the Commission was instructed by the Acting County Attorney not to discuss any of it:  not the developer’s post-approval changes to plans nor the apparent hiding of information about existing pollution already happening at the Trappe plant to which the first homes at to be connected.  The gag order (as it was characterized by one Commissioner) was out within twenty-four hours, after the Acting County Attorney consulted with Councilman Pack and the County Engineer.

Though the Planning Commission was most unhappy with this directive, the County Attorney did not attend their next meeting on July 7th, and indeed a session to respond to the Commissions’ objections to that order could not be scheduled until Friday.  At that encounter the Commissioners and the Acting County Attorney spent almost an hour and a half in closed executive session before Commission Chairman Chip Councell announced the upcoming work session.

The Planning Commission is also asking the County Council to provide them with independent legal counsel, so that they can get legal advice from a source other than the Acting County Attorney, who represents and responds to the Council.  (Mr. Pack suggested such an arrangement at the Council Meeting on July 13th.)

As regular readers recall, this all began two and a half months ago when I petitioned the County Council to consider rescission of Resolution 281.  The Council continues to refuse to permit me to even present the Petition, and I have had to go to the Circuit Court to seek an order to compel them to hear it–as explicitly required by their own Rules of Procedure.  Approximately 200 concerned citizens and the Talbot Preservation Alliance have formally joined in supporting Petition 21-01.  (Consider adding your name too, simply by sending a brief email to that effect to smoran@talbgov.org.) 

Two and a half months is a long time, and the County could have already completed a review of the matters if they’d wanted to.  Instead, the Council and their Acting County Attorney seem to have done all they could to resist and delay any re-examination of the Lakeside approvals, and they may continue to do that.  Meanwhile, the developer began pushing dirt last Thursday.

It is comforting to learn that the five Commissioners (experienced unpaid volunteers) are launching an effort to get to the bottom of things. As Chairman Councell told the County Council in a meeting last Tuesday night, “When I look in the mirror, and when I talk to my kids and grandkids in so many years, I want them to know we did everything we did in the correct order and made the best decision possible. It’s that simple.”

Dan Watson is the former chair of Bipartisan Coalition For New Council Leadership and has lived in Talbot County for the last twenty-five years. 

Letter to Editor: In Praise of “Nice” Yogurt

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Well, I couldn’t believe it… I felt like I was being transported “back to the future” with my phone call. Am I on candid camera or what?

It all started with a shopping trip to Graul’s Supermarket in St. Michaels. I purchased a tub of yogurt that seemed like a more local brand. I am trying to limit sodium to reduce blood pressure, and the yogurt didn’t show the amount of sodium on the label. So I decided to call the number shown on the label to get more info from the company that made the yogurt.

Turns out I ended up speaking right to the farmer who produces the yogurt! His phone and address is right on the label! He gave me a detailed lesson on how they make the yogurt and the special cows used that produce less milk but of higher quality. I was even invited out to see his farm.

Sensing I was talking to an old-fashioned “purist” in agriculture, my wife and I took him up on the offer and drove the 25-30 minutes to Federalsburg where his farm is located. The farmer introduced us to the cows (by name) , and showed us how the milking machines deliver the milk right from the specially grown grass into a stainless steel vat that makes the yogurt. No exposure to any outside contaminants. His farm is spotless, and he also produces some knock-out ice cream as well. And, he will DELIVER to your doorstep!

These days, when most companies direct you to their website, so they don’t have to interact with the public (hate those phone menus!), it was really refreshing to talk directly to the producer of the product. I felt like I was dealing with someone from somewhere in the past – the way things used to be! He has a real passion for the purity of the product he is producing. I don’t think I am out of line in sharing this gentleman’s contact info – after all, it is on his packages!

His name is Bob Miller, and the farm is Nice Farms Creamery (his grandfather, who started the farm was named “Nice”). His number is 410-829-4456 (also on the yogurt) if you care to contact him directly. He is extremely knowledgeable on the history of the cows and on the development of his products.

Neal Grunstra, PhD
St. Michaels

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